NAIG – AG CENSUS
There were two surprises in the latest Census of Agriculture.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says Iowa had more farms and younger farmers in 2022 than the previous census.
Naig describes what’s behind these trends.
But Naig says obstacles remain for beginning farmers.
Naig says the census shows there is generational change underway on the farm.
The 2022 census of Agriculture says Iowa gained 800 farms, 1% more than the 2017 Ag Census. The number of farmers under the age of 35 is 10% of the total. Naig was in Hinton Friday to fourth grade students. He was invited by the Iowa Ag literacy Foundation and the Siouxland Ag in the Classsroom.
BILL TO CRACKDOWN ON SWATTING CALLS
People who falsely report a shooting or other incident that would require a massive police response could be charged with a felony if the governor approves a bill that’s cleared the legislature. Representative Zach Dieken of Granville says during the last school year there were 89 of these false reports about non-existent threats in school districts.
These kind of incidents are sometimes called “SWATTING” — a reference to “Special Weapons and Tactics” or SWAT teams.
Dieken says in addition to law enforcement, fire fighters and E-M-Ts waste time and resources responding to something that turns out to be nothing. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.
HINTON MAN ARRESTED AFTER DISTURBANCE
A Hinton man was arrested this week after a report of shots fired. On Tuesday, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a disturbance on Juniper Ave near Hinton. The disturbance involved a gun shot being fired. After an investigation, 40 year old Thomas Wendt of Hinton was arrested. He was charge with felon in possession of a firearm, domestic abuse assault first offense, simple assault, and reckless use of a firearm.
The Le Mars Police Department, the Hinton Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol assisted the Sheriffs Office.
HOUSE PASSES BILL TO RESTRICT DEI PROGRAMS AT IOWA, ISU AND UNI
Tuition hikes would be capped and diversity, equity and inclusion programs would be restricted at Iowa’s public universities, under a bill passed by the Iowa House on Thursday. The bill would add two lawmakers to the Board of Regents as non-voting members, and it would make other changes to higher education policies, including some the universities have already set in motion. Republican Representative Taylor Collins of Mediapolis says the regents spend too much on D-E-I initiatives. All Democrats and six Republicans opposed the bill. Democrats say they support capping tuition hikes, but this bill doesn’t help the universities make up for lost revenue. They also say Republicans are politicizing D-E-I efforts, and that’ll have negative impacts on Iowa’s future workforce.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’ BILL WINS FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, HEADS TO GOVERNOR
Iowa House Republicans passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act last (Thursday) night and sent the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. The bill says state and local regulations can’t restrict people from acting in accordance with their religion unless the government has a compelling interest. Opponents say the measure could allow discrimination against L-G-B-T-Q Iowans and others in services like health care, while backers say it would protect religious freedom in a narrow way. Governor Kim Reynolds released a statement indicating she’ll sign the bill into law.
